Crowd outside Firoza to bid farewell to Khaleda

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia is set to leave the country for the first time in over half a decade. 

The former prime minister is departing Dhaka on this night for the United Kingdom to receive advanced medical treatment.

Supporters, party leaders, and individuals from various walks of life gathered in front of her Gulshan residence, Firoza, to personally bid her farewell. The atmosphere was sombre yet filled with emotion, as they expressed their good wishes for her recovery and safe journey.

Khaleda Zia is scheduled to leave Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 10:00pm aboard a special Royal Air Ambulance, provided by the Emir of Qatar. 

The motorcade carrying the BNP Chairperson is expected to depart from Firoza at 8:00pm, travelling through Gulshan 2 and Kakali intersections on its way to the airport.

The area around Firoza saw heightened security, with law enforcement closing the road to traffic. Media personnel were also present in significant numbers to cover the historic event.

The special air ambulance arrived in Dhaka at 7:40 p.m. on Monday in preparation for Khaleda Zia's journey to London.

Dr AZM Zahid Hossain, her personal physician and a member of the BNP Standing Committee, entered Firoza at around 3:00pm to oversee final medical arrangements.

This marks Khaleda Zia's first trip to London since July 16, 2017, when she traveled for follow-up treatment for her eyes and feet. Since then, she has faced legal and political challenges, including imprisonment in several corruption cases from early 2018.

As Khaleda Zia embarks on this journey for better medical care, her departure is a moment of reflection for her supporters and party members.